The morning in Orléans was still quiet, with the city asleep, but Nangong Wentian was already seated at his desk, booting up the "Star Core."
The room was small, barely fitting a bed, a table, and a simple wardrobe. Outside the window, the silhouette of the Morgenroete building loomed faintly in the dawn light. He placed the coffee he had bought the night before on the table, its steam rising in white wisps in the cool air.
On the screen, the market data he had organized the previous night remained. He took a sip of coffee, the bitterness spreading across his tongue, sharpening his focus. There was much to do today—not just gathering data, but truly understanding the city's technological ecosystem.
He opened the industrial analysis module of the "Star Core" and began systematically organizing all the information he had collected the night before.
First, Morgenroete.
Orb's largest military-industrial enterprise occupied six entire blocks in the eastern part of the capital. According to public records, their business spanned multiple fields, including spacecraft manufacturing, weapons system development, and energy technology research. But the core of their operations was Mobile Suit-related technology—though this was never mentioned in any public documents.
Nangong Wentian pulled up Morgenroete's public patent list in the "Star Core" and skimmed through it quickly. Most patents were related to material processing, control systems, and energy management. Individually, these technologies seemed ordinary, but combined, they pointed clearly in one direction—Mobile Suits.
"Lightweight processing of MS Frames," he murmured, reading the title of one patent. "Energy consumption optimization for joint drive systems." These were foundational technologies for Mobile Suit development.
In the "Star Core," he marked out Morgenroete's technology tree—frame materials, joint drives, energy systems, weapon interfaces… Each branch was rapidly expanding. Morgenroete's technological accumulation ran far deeper than he had anticipated.
Next, the Morgan Reti Corporation.
This private heavy industry giant occupied the industrial zone in the western part of the capital. Unlike Morgenroete, their business was more diversified—construction machinery, shipbuilding, aerospace components… But what caught Nangong Wentian's attention was their capability for processing large structural components.
"The construction of an Orbital Elevator requires this level of processing capability," he noted in the "Star Core." "A key partner for future collaboration."
Beyond these two giants, Orléans was home to numerous small and medium-sized enterprises. Some specialized in precision machining, others in control systems, and still others in material testing. Though small in scale, these companies had unique strengths in their respective fields.
Nangong Wentian spent the entire morning categorizing these enterprises by business sector, technological capability, and market positioning. By noon, a complete map of Orléans' technological industry had taken shape on the "Star Core" screen.
He zoomed in on the map, carefully examining each region.
Morgenroete and Morgan Reti stood like two towering trees, overshadowing most of the market. Their influence extended into every field, from basic research to product manufacturing, covering almost everything. Small and medium-sized enterprises could only survive in the gaps left by these giants, focusing on niche markets the larger players overlooked or avoided.
Yet, it was precisely in these gaps that he saw opportunity.
He noticed a phenomenon—almost no companies were involved in the new energy sector. Solar power, hydrogen energy, small-scale nuclear fusion... these technologies either remained in the experimental stage or were too costly to commercialize. As an island nation, Orb relied heavily on energy imports, which was both a pain point and an opportunity.
Similarly, the aerospace infrastructure sector was also a blank space. Orbital transportation, space port construction, deep-space exploration support... these projects required long-term investment and had extended payback periods, making them unattractive to companies focused on short-term profits. But Nangong Wentian knew this was precisely the most important strategic direction for the future.
He marked two blank areas on the map, circling them in red—new energy and aerospace infrastructure.
"This is it," he whispered.
Continuing his analysis, he discovered gaps in Orb's industrial policies as well. The government strongly supported military and heavy industries but provided insufficient backing for civilian new energy and aerospace sectors. This was likely due to the overwhelming influence of Morgenroete and Morgan Le Fay, which diverted resources toward them.
"If the Colossus Group enters these two sectors, it won't directly compete with the giants in the short term," Nangong Wentian recorded in the "Star Core." "There will be enough time to accumulate technology and capital."
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his tired eyes.
Outside, the sun had reached its zenith. Across the street, several workers in uniforms were eating lunch in front of a convenience store. In the distance, cranes were hoisting steel beams at a construction site. The city was bustling under the sunlight, everything orderly and calm.
But he knew this peace wouldn't last long.
He opened the news analysis module in "Star Core" and retrieved international news from the past month. Friction between PLANT and the Earth Federation was becoming increasingly frequent—trade sanctions, diplomatic accusations, small-scale military standoffs... each piece of news was like a taut string, ready to snap at any moment.
"At most, seven years left," he murmured.
The Bloody Valentine of CE.70 was the turning point in this world's fate. Before that, he had to make all necessary preparations.
He refocused his attention on the screen and began planning the Colossus Group's business structure.
Public Operations:
New Energy Technology Development—focusing on solar power as the main direction, researching high-efficiency, low-cost photovoltaic systems and energy storage equipment. This would not only address Orb's energy issues but also provide the group with a stable cash flow.
Aerospace Infrastructure Construction—centered on the Orbital Elevator project, complemented by space ports, space stations, and other facilities. This was a long-term project requiring substantial funding and technological accumulation, but once successful, it would fundamentally transform the Earth Sphere's transportation landscape.
Secret Research and Development:
MS Core Technologies—including E-Carbon Armor, Gundanium Alloy, GN Drive, and others. These technologies had to be developed under absolute secrecy, with no exposure in the public market.
He paused, reviewing the plan once more. The boundary between public operations and secret research had to be clear, ensuring no one could infer the direction of the secret research from the public operations.
"Solar power and the Orbital Elevator," he pondered. "The technologies required for these two projects are precisely the foundation for MS development."
Solar power generation requires highly efficient energy conversion technology, which is precisely the foundation of the GN Drive. Orbital elevators demand high-strength, lightweight materials, perfectly suited for prototyping E-Carbon Armor and Gundanium Alloy. Public operations provide cover for secret research and development, while the fruits of secret R&D can, in turn, bolster public operations—a perfect closed loop.
He continued refining the plan, setting timelines for each phase.
CE.63-64: Complete company registration, find a proxy agent, and establish the prototype of a secret laboratory.
CE.65-66: Complete preliminary research on E-Carbon Armor, accumulate the first pot of gold, and begin theoretical design of the Pseudo Solar Furnace.
CE.67-68: Complete Gundanium Alloy R&D, finalize MS Frame design, and start manufacturing the Pseudo Solar Furnace prototype.
CE.69-70: Complete the rollout of the first GM, finalize the Mobile Suit Simulator System, and achieve combat readiness before the outbreak of war.
He stared at these timelines, silently calculating in his mind. Seven years—to build a Mobile Suit from scratch. To anyone, this would seem an impossible task. But he had no choice—the war wouldn't wait for him.
Outside the window, the glass curtain wall of the Morgenroete building reflected the glaring sunlight. Inside that building, Erica Simmons was leading her team in developing the Astray Series Mobile Suits. Their progress was faster, their resources greater, but their direction differed—they followed the SEED World's own technological path, while he held the technological achievements of both the Universal Century and Anno Domini worlds.
"It's like a race," he said to himself. "They start from the starting line, I start from the finish line. Who's faster remains to be seen."
He closed the industrial map and began researching Orb's startup policies.
The government's official website provided detailed information—newly registered enterprises could apply for R&D subsidies, up to 30% of the project budget; companies in specified fields (including new energy, new materials, and aerospace technology) could enjoy tax reductions; small and medium-sized enterprises could apply for low-interest loans…
"The condition is that the enterprise must be registered in Orb, with its primary R&D and production activities conducted within Orb's territory," he read aloud the most critical restriction.
This meant he had to put down roots in Orb. He couldn't operate from behind the scenes through intermediaries, as he had when selling alloy formulas. He needed a formally registered company, a legitimate identity, and legitimate operations.
"Kijima Takashi," he uttered the name.
This unemployed engineer was the best candidate he had screened—technically skilled, reliable in character, with a daughter to care for, and sufficient motivation to accept the job. But to have him serve as the legal representative required further observation and groundwork.
He pulled up Kijima Takashi's file in the "Star Core" and reviewed it once more.
Age: 38. Education: Master's degree from a technical university in the Atlantic Federation. Work Experience: Served as a technical supervisor in several small and medium-sized enterprises, unemployed due to company closures. Family Situation: Daughter Kijima Mayu suffers from a rare disease requiring high medical expenses. Personality Traits: Strong sense of responsibility, solid technical foundation, no negative records.
"Needs further observation," he noted. "Confirm his loyalty and resilience under pressure."
He added one more item to the plan: In the second half of Cosmic Era 63, complete a comprehensive evaluation of Kijima Takashi and establish a cooperative relationship.
By the time he finished all this, it was almost evening. He stood up, walked to the window, and stretched his stiff neck.
The setting sun was sinking in the west, dyeing the entire city in shades of orange and red. The glass curtain wall of the Morgenroete building resembled a massive mirror, reflecting the glow of the sunset. In the distance, the sea shimmered with golden ripples as several cargo ships slowly sailed out of the harbor.
The city was beautiful, serene. But he knew this was merely the calm before the storm.
He returned to his desk and opened a hidden folder in "Star Core." Inside was only one file, titled "Project Stellar Core."
After a moment of hesitation, he clicked it open.
On the screen, the design schematics of a Mobile Suit slowly unfolded. It was not a GM, not an Exia, nor a Dynames—it was his own exclusive unit, designed by himself, integrating the core technologies of the Universal Century, Anno Domini, and SEED systems.
The Stellar Core Gundam.
He had never shown this design to anyone, nor had he left any trace of it outside of "Star Core." This was his deepest secret, his final trump card.
"It will still be a long wait," he murmured softly. "Until the day you are truly born."
He closed the file, shut down the computer, and lay down on the bed.
The slender crack on the ceiling was still there, even clearer in the twilight. Staring at it, the events of the day flashed through his mind—Morgenroete's technology tree, its manufacturing capabilities, the niche markets among small and medium-sized enterprises, the gaps in new energy and aerospace infrastructure...
Each discovery was a piece of the puzzle, outlining the path he would take in the future.
He closed his eyes and whispered, "Tomorrow, we continue."
Outside the window, the capital of Orb was ablaze with lights. The city breathed in the night, and he was already a part of that breath.